“…the illustrator won’t draw any one particular mushroom, but the essence of that mushroom, and translate it into his or her interpretation, style, and even emotional response in a way that most people can understand… Isn’t this exactly what musicians do?”

“There’s this group dynamic in the MET Orchestra…everyone is always on their toes, ready for what might happen behind them on the stage…there’s a very strong feeling of collaboration between everyone involved.”

“One of the main things I love about opera is how it changes from performance to performance. In opera, you are constantly reminded of this because the orchestra has to listen to the singers. And, of course, the singers have to listen to the orchestra, too. Therefore, there is a built-in awareness of how music must breathe.”

"I find it immensely rewarding being with the kids and watching them grow. Yes, it can be exhausting to be with both kids the entire day - it was really telling last season, when Rafi and I played Elektra together, that we still found it more relaxing to come to work! But what we find is that you can concentrate and totally immerse yourself in the music without thoughts of anything else - and that often feels much easier than constantly attending to the needs of two young toddlers!

"If you look at Tapiola, [Sibelius'] last tone poem, he spins the motif out of only three notes. What happens when you reduce from three notes? Two notes? It was as if this process of concentration left him with nothing."

Marcia Butler, longtime Opera Fan(atic) and writer, has released a memoir about discovering music as a refuge from her abusive childhood home. Here, she shares 10 tips for opera first-timers to help them discover the same magic she feels at the Met.

Disclaimer: This website is owned and operated by The Metropolitan Opera Orchestra Committee, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation. It does not represent the views, positions, or opinions of the Metropolitan Opera but only those of the musicians and their Union, The Associated Musicians of Greater New York, Local 802 , American Federation of Musicians.